symposium

noun

sym·​po·​sium sim-ˈpō-zē-əm 

 also  -zh(ē-)əm

plural symposia sim-ˈpō-zē-ə 

-zh(ē-)ə

or symposiums

1

a

: a convivial party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation

b

: a social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas

2

a

: a formal meeting at which several specialists deliver short addresses on a topic or on related topics compare colloquium

b

: a collection of opinions on a subject

especially : one published by a periodical

c

: discussion

Did you know?

When you hear the word symposium, you may—quite understandably—envision conferences full of intellectuals giving heady presentations on various arcana. But it was drinking, more than thinking, that drew people to the original symposia and gave us the word. Symposium (symposia or symposiums in plural form) comes from the Greek noun symposion, the word ancient Greeks used for a drinking party that follows a banquet. Symposion in turn comes from sympinein, a verb that combines pinein, meaning “to drink,” with the prefix syn-, meaning “together.” Originally, English speakers only used symposium to refer to such an ancient Greek party, but in the 18th century British gentlemen’s clubs started using the word for confabs in which conversation was fueled by drinking. By the end of the 18th century, symposium had gained the more sober sense we know today, referring to meetings in which the focus is more on imbibing ideas and less on imbibing, say, mead.

Synonyms

• seminar
• conference
• panel

Examples of symposium in a Sentence

Professors and graduate students attended the symposium.

recently attended a daylong symposium on new methods of chromatography

Recent Examples on the Web

And Powell also nodded to that possibility in his keynote speech last month at the Kansas City Fed’s annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

Blanchflower confirmed that Dartmouth and the UN are co-hosting a symposium in New Hampshire in late October, with guests including Jonathan Haidt and Robert Putnam. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025

Powell’s comments at the central bank’s symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming spurred a broader stock market rally, as lower rates are expected to jolt the economy. —Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Speaking at the annual Jackson Hole symposium, Powell said that with policy still restrictive and job market data weakening, the Fed could soon pivot — marking his clearest signal yet that rate cuts may be on the horizon. —Benzinga, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek symposion, from sympinein to drink together, from syn- + pinein to drink — more at potable

First Known Use

1711, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for symposium

• dysprosium

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Kids Definition

symposium

noun

sym·​po·​sium sim-ˈpō-zē-əm 

 also  -zh(ē-)əm

plural symposia -zē-ə 

-zh(ē-)ə

or symposiums

1

: a group meeting at which there are several speeches and often a group discussion

2

: a collection of opinions on a subject

Etymology

from earlier symposium "a social gathering at which there is a free exchange of ideas," from Latin symposium "a party with much drinking and conversation," derived from Greek sympinein "to drink together," from syn- "together with" and pinein "to drink" — related to synonymous